FAQ

Getting ready for your procedure:

Leave all jewelry and valuables at home. This does notmean your insurance card or your eyeglasses. The endoscopy center cannot take responsibility for safeguarding your personal items. There will be a locker (and key) provided though, which can hold a small bag or other item.

Make arrangements for someone to take you home . Your escort will need to be available to drive you or escort you home. Please limit the number of persons accompanying you to a maximum of two. Only one person will be allowed in the recovery room with you.

Please make arrangements for childcare in advance . The endoscopy center reception area and recovery room area are not designed to accommodate small children.

Bring all of your medications and medical information with you. Bring a list of all of your current medications and their dosages with you.

If you have any questions regarding your medication prior to the procedure, please contact our office.

At East Side Endoscopy Center:

What can I expect when I arrive at the endoscopy center?

Please check in at the reception desk and present your insurance card to the receptionist. There will be paperwork to sign, including a consent for the procedure you will be having.

Let us know about any medication, food or latex allergies

You will be assigned your own bay or special area that will be yours before and after the procedure. You will be asked to change into a gown. The nurse and/or an Anesthesiologist will ask you questions about your medical history and current medication use. Please be prepared to review your health history at this time.

Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation will be monitored before, during and after the exam. An intravenous (I.V.) needle will be placed in your hand or arm.

COLONOSCOPY QUESTIONS

What can I expect during the colonoscopy?The nurse will help you get comfortable on a stretcher. After blood pressure and heart rate monitors are applied, you will lie on your left side. Your anesthesiologist will give you an intravenous injection of medication. After you fall asleep, the physician will insert the tip of the scope into your rectum and advance it forward into the colon. The procedure typically takes 15-20 minutes. When your examination is finished you will be taken to the recovery area for observation and recovery for 30-45 minutes.

What can I expect after a colonoscopy ? Because air is put into your colon during the procedure, you may experience cramping, bloating and the need to expel large amounts of air from your rectum. This is normal for the first 24 hours. Most of the gas is expelled within 1 hour of the conclusion of the procedure. You may not have a bowel movement for 1-3 days because of the colonoscopy prep. This is normal. Your physician will review the test results with you after you are awake. If a biopsy was obtained or a polyp removed, your physician will contact you to review the results within 5-7 days of the procedure.

What are the possible complications of colonoscopy?Please be informed that a colonoscopy is never 100% accurate. The accuracy varies with the quality of the preparation and the size of the polyp. If you develop any new or recurrent gastrointestinal signs or symptoms after the procedure, immediately bring it to the attention of your physician.

When performed by a knowledgeable and competent physician, a colonoscopy is a very low risk procedure. Very rarely, bleeding or perforation (tearing of the lining of the colon) may occur. Other risks include a reaction to medication, irritation at the site of the injection, or complications related to other medical problems that you may already have.

Perforation: Passage of the instrument may result in an injury to the gastrointestinal tract wall with possible leakage of gastrointestinal contents into the body cavity. If this occurs, surgery to close the leak and/or drain the region is usually required. The risk of this is generally less than 1 in 1000.

Bleeding: Bleeding, if it occurs, is usually a complication of biopsy, polypectomy or dilation. Management of this complication may consist only of careful observation, or may require transfusions or possibly a surgical operation.

Medication Phlebitis: Medications used for sedation may irritate the vein in which they are injected. This causes a red, painful swelling of the vein and surrounding tissue. The area could become infected. Discomfort in the area may persist for several weeks to several months.

Conscious Sedation Medication and Pregnancy: There are risks involved with Anesthesia, especially as it relates to a pregnancy. If there is a question that a pregnancy is possible, a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to the procedure. If you are breast feeding, do not breast feed for 48 hours.

Other Risks: Include drug reactions and complications from other diseases you may already have. Instrument failure and death are extremely rare but remain remote possibilities.

YOU MUST INFORM YOUR PHYSICIAN OF ALL YOUR ALLERGIC TENDENCIES AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

What are some of the signs of a complication from a colonscopy ? Although complications after colonoscopy are uncommon, it is important for you to recognize early signs of any possible complication. Go directly to the emergency room and contact your physician if you notice any of the following:

Chills and/or fever over 101 degrees

Persistent vomiting

Severe abdominal pain, other than gas cramps

Severe chest pain

Black, tarry stools

Any bleeding-exceeding one tablespoon.

What restrictions in activity are there after a colonoscopy and how should I expect to feel?

The sedation used during your exam impairs judgment, memory, and equilibrium. We cannot perform this procedure unless we know that you will arrive home safely, so please bring a friend or family member with you or have them pick you after your examination:

No driving a car, motorcycle or boat post-procedure for at least 24 hours

No working out at the gym or other activities requiring coordination or balance or bicycle riding for at least 24 hours

No drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours

No plane travel or long car trips for at least 24 hours

No use of heavy machinery for at least 24 hours

No important life decisions or financial decisions for at least 24 hours

Except for these restrictions, you may resume your normal diet unless directed otherwise by your physician. Your physician may give you additional instructions at the time of discharge.

What are the alternatives to Colonoscopy ? Although colonoscopy is an extremely safe and effective means of examining the gastrointestinal tract, it is not 100 percent accurate in diagnosis. In a small percentage of cases, a failure of diagnosis or misdiagnosis may result. Other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, such as medical treatment, x-ray and surgery are available. Another option is to choose no diagnostic studies and/or treatment. Your physician will be happy to discuss these options with you.

ENDOSCOPY (UPPER ENDOSCOPY) QUESTIONS

What can be expected during the Upper Endoscopy? You may have your throat sprayed with a local anesthetic before the test begins and given medication through a vein to help you fall asleep before the examination. You will lie on your side in a comfortable position as the endoscope is gently passed through your mouth and into your esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The procedure usually lasts 10 minutes. The endoscope does not interfere with your breathing.

What happens after Upper Endoscopy? You will be monitored in the recovery area for about 30-45 minutes until most of the effects of the sedatives have worn off. Your throat rarely can be a little sore for a day or two. You may feel bloated immediately after the procedure because of the air that is introduced into your stomach during the examination. You will be able to resume your diet and take your routine medication after you leave the endoscopy center, unless otherwise instructed. Your doctor will usually inform you of your test results on the day of the procedure, unless biopsy samples were taken. These results typically take 5-7 days to return.

What complications can occur from an endoscopy ? Endoscopy and biopsy are very safe when performed by doctors who have had special training and are experienced in these endoscopic procedures. Complications are rare. However, they can occur and include bleeding from the site of a biopsy or polypectomy and a tear (perforation) through the lining of the intestinal wall. Blood transfusions are rarely required. A reaction to the sedatives can occur. Irritation to the vein that medications were given is uncommon, but may cause a tender lump lasting a few weeks. Warm, moist towels will help relieve this discomfort.

Perforation: Passage of the instrument may result in an injury to the gastrointestinal tract wall with possible leakage of gastrointestinal contents into the body cavity. If this occurs, surgery to close the leak and/or drain the region is usually required.

Bleeding: Bleeding, if it occurs, is usually a complication of biopsy, Polypectomy or dilation. Management of this complication may consist only of careful observation, or may require transfusions or possibly a surgical operation.

Medication Phlebitis: Medications used for sedation may irritate the vein in which they are injected. This causes a red, painful swelling of the vein and surrounding tissue. The area could become infected. Discomfort in the area may persist for several weeks to several months.

Conscious Sedation Medication and Pregnancy: There are risks involved with Anesthesia, especially as it relates to a pregnancy. If there is a question that a pregnancy is possible, a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to the procedure. If you are breast feeding, do not breast feed for 48 hours.

Other Risks: Include drug reactions and complications from other diseases you may already have. Instrument failure and death are extremely rare but remain remote possibilities.

YOU MUST INFORM YOUR PHYSICIAN OF ALL YOUR ALLERGIC TENDENCIES AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

What are some of the signs of a complication from an endoscopy ? Although complications after Upper Endoscopy (EGD) are uncommon, it is important for you to recognize early signs of any possible complication. Go directly to the emergency room and contact your physician if you notice any of the following:

Chills and/or fever over 101

Persistent vomiting or vomiting with blood/nasal regurgitation

Severe abdominal pain, other than gas cramps

Severe chest pain

Black, tarry stools

Please be informed that an Endoscopy is never 100% accurate. After the procedure, if you should develop any new or recurrent gastrointestinal signs or symptoms, immediately bring it to the attention of your Physician.

What restrictions in activity are there after an endoscopy and how should I expect to feel? The sedation used during your exam impairs judgment, memory, and equilibrium. We cannot perform this procedure unless we know that you will arrive home safely, so please bring a friend or family member with you:

No driving a car, motorcycle or boat post-procedure for at least 24 hours

No working out at the gym or other activities requiring coordination or balance or bicycle riding for at least 24 hours

No drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours

No plane travel or long car trips for at least 24 hours

No use of heavy machinery for at least 24 hours

No important life decisions or financial decisions for at least 24 hours

Except for these restrictions, you may resume your normal diet unless directed otherwise by your physician. Your physician may give you additional instructions at the time of discharge.

You may experience a sore throat for 24 to 48 hours. You may use throat lozenges or gargle with warm water to relieve the discomfort.

Because air was put into your stomach during the procedure, you may experience some belching.

What are the Alternatives to Gastrointestinal Endoscopy? Although gastrointestinal endoscopy is an extremely safe and effective means of examining the gastrointestinal tract, it is not 100 percent accurate in diagnosis. In a small percentage of cases, a failure of diagnosis or misdiagnosis may result. Other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, such as medical treatment, x-ray and surgery are available. Another option is to choose no diagnostic studies and/or treatment. Your physician will be happy to discuss these options with you.

After your examinations

We would prefer your escort to stay in the immediate area during your procedure. Average recovery time is 30-45 minutes for most procedures. Your escort will can come into the recovery room to listen to your discharge instructions. It would be best if someone could stay with you at home or check on you following your procedure. Patients will remain in the recovery area until they are ready for discharge. You may start to eat or drink upon awakening from your examination . Juice, water or ginger ale as well as cookies or crackers will be available after the examination. You may advance to your regular diet upon leaving the endoscopy unit. We DO NOT recommend drinking any alcohol for 24 hours following conclusion of the examination. You may return to your normal routine the day following your examination, unless given specific instructions by your physician.